“God’s Care for the Widow: Encouragement and Wisdom for those who Grieve”

I should like to draw your attention to (and, incidentally, to draw to your attention) a new book written by my father, Austin Walker, and published by DayOne.

Over his decades of pastoral ministry, he has cared for several widows, not least among whom were my own Mamgu (my Welsh grandmother), as well as several other ladies in this church and – as opportunity provided – one or two further afield. Disappointed at the relative absence of modern material equipping the saints to care for widows, he has distilled the material developed during those times into a brief and cheap book (128 pages, £5) of relatively short and accessible chapters, as listed below. You can also read a sample.

Whether you are a pastor or other Christian seeking to minister to grieving widows, want to prepare for such an eventuality, want a sensitive gift for more or less recently widowed women, or would appreciate this counsel for yourself, here is an outstanding resource, accessible without being shallow, truly sensitive without being mawkishly sentimental, Scriptural both in its substance and its tender application. I strongly recommend it.

Introduction

Chapter 1 A defender of widows

Chapter 2 God relieves the widow

Chapter 3 Three funerals and three widows

Chapter 4 God’s bottle for your tears

Chapter 5 Submitting to God’s wise ways

Chapter 6 Joy before the Lord

Chapter 7 God’s salvation in Zarephath

Chapter 8 Resurrection in Zarephath

Chapter 9 The sympathy and indignation of Christ

Chapter 10 Resurrection in Nain

Chapter 11 The love of Jesus for his mother

Chapter 12 Omnipotent compassion

Chapter 13 The care of widows

Chapter 14 ‘Really widows’

Chapter 15 Serving Christ as a widow

Chapter 16 Younger widows

Chapter 17 Standing fast

Chapter 18 A living hope

The official overview states that “this book is written for widows to comfort them in their various troubles. Throughout the Bible God makes himself known as the one who defends, comforts and provides for the widow. From the days of Moses and the prophets, to the time of the Lord Jesus Christ and the early church, widows have been the object of his fatherly care. Written under the conviction that the church of Christ is responsible for relieving the distress of widows this book seeks to draw out God’s wisdom for the widow. Naomi, Ruth, the widows of Zarephath and Nain, the Jerusalem widows, and Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ are among those considered.”

Here are some of the endorsements:

James 1:27 is very clear on some of the deeds that need to emanate from a converted heart: a life separated from the corruption of the world and the taking care of orphans and widows. In recent days much has been written about adopting orphans, but little is written specifically for widows and their needs. Here is considerable help and encouragement for widows, as well as important insights for those who minister to them. May Austin Walker’s much-needed and welcome application of the numerous passages on widows have a wide circulation!

Dr Michael A G Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, & Director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies & Research Professor of Irish Baptist College, Constituent College of Queen’s University Belfast, N. Ireland

This book will help widows. There is nothing better than the counsels to be found here.

Does the Bible have much to say by way of precepts and examples concerning God’s special care for and commitment to the broken hearts and shattered lives of widows? Do the Scriptures address the church regarding its peculiar responsibilities to be sensitive and caring with respect to the peculiar needs of its widows? Are there clear directives to widows themselves regarding how they may best cope with their widowhood and even use that state as a platform for greater service to Christ and to his people? In this Scripture-soaked book, written out of an experienced and caring pastor’s heart, these questions are answered with tenderness and biblical authority. Thank you, Pastor Walker, for giving us a much-needed book.